Tensions rise in Congo over new election delay

Commission says blaze damaged vote machines

KINSHASA, Congo — Congo’s electoral commission on Thursday delayed the country’s long-awaited presidential election until Dec. 30, citing a recent fire that destroyed 80 percent of the voting machines in the capital.

The vote had been scheduled for Sunday. This is the latest of several delays in the election originally scheduled for late 2016, amid opposition concerns that President Joseph Kabila had been looking for ways to stay in power. Kabila, in office since 2001, this year said he would step aside.

After last week’s fire destroyed some 8,000 voting machines in Kinshasa, officials found replacement machines but had to get 5 million new ballots printed and prepared, said Corneille Nangaa, head of the national electoral commission.

He called on the country of some 40 million voters for calm. The delay could spark another wave of unrest.

Some protesters quickly gathered outside the electoral commission’s offices to demonstrate against the delay.

“Nangaa speaks nonsense. They didn’t organize the election in seven years and they want us to believe they will be ready in seven days? Kabila is sabotaging the election. Kabila must go,” said Fiston Adumba, 32.

Tensions have been rising in Congo, which has not had a peaceful, democratic change of leader since it became independent from Belgium in 1960.

On Wednesday the governor of Kinshasa, Andre Kimbuta, banned all election rallies in the capital, citing security concerns. That prevented opposition leader Martin Fayulu from holding a rally.

“No postponement is justifiable,” Fayulu’s coalition said in a statement, saying it would not accept the delay and accusing Kabila of trying to stay in power and “continue to loot the country.”